Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $310 per month in Janakpur vs $496 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $519 per month in Janakpur vs $788 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $728 per month in Janakpur vs $1,080 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Janakpur is about 37% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Janakpur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Janakpur 77% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 NPR 282

$1.77 NPR 270

4.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.13 NPR 1,694

$19.02 NPR 2,895

-41.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.36 NPR 968

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-4.65%

Cappuccino

$1.74 NPR 264

$1.83 NPR 278

-4.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 NPR 76.6

$0.50 NPR 76.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.22

$0.17 NPR 26.50

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 NPR 361

$2.56 NPR 389

-7.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 NPR 394

$3.74 NPR 570

-30.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.65 NPR 98.9

$0.86 NPR 131

-24.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.31 NPR 46.84

$0.60 NPR 90.9

-48.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 102

$0.99 NPR 151

-32.32%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 279

$1.77 NPR 269

3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.26 NPR 648

$9.10 NPR 1,384

-53.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 NPR 483

$3.11 NPR 473

2.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 NPR 558

$6.26 NPR 953

-41.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 NPR 260

$2.18 NPR 332

-21.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$1.10 NPR 168

-37.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 190

$1.23 NPR 187

1.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 104

$0.65 NPR 98.5

6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 NPR 45.99

$0.49 NPR 74.4

-38.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 NPR 83.6

$0.72 NPR 110

-23.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.21 NPR 31.93

$0.53 NPR 80.4

-60.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 NPR 36.38

$0.25 NPR 37.71

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 NPR 392

$2.89 NPR 439

-10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 NPR 1,218

$7.77 NPR 1,182

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 NPR 296

$2.35 NPR 357

-17.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 NPR 378

$3.33 NPR 507

-25.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 27.18

$0.23 NPR 35.10

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 NPR 114

$2.22 NPR 337

-66.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 NPR 103

$1.10 NPR 167

-39.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 NPR 550

$3.63 NPR 552

-0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 NPR 180

$1.23 NPR 188

-4.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K NPR 3.8M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-21.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.5K NPR 4.5M

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

-27.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$14.52 NPR 2,210

$33.55 NPR 5,106

-56.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.98 NPR 758

$5.01 NPR 763

-0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$4.25 NPR 647

$9.37 NPR 1,426

-54.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.93 NPR 1,664

$22.42 NPR 3,413

-51.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.14 NPR 1,087

$7.26 NPR 1,105

-1.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 NPR 482

$3.24 NPR 493

-2.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$33.01 NPR 5,025

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

-64.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,836 NPR 583.9K

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

-0.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.47 NPR 3,573

$24.41 NPR 3,715

-3.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.43 NPR 2,805

$28.40 NPR 4,322

-35.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.90 NPR 4,703

$58.5 NPR 8,907

-47.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.25 NPR 4,757

$39.72 NPR 6,046

-21.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$38.84 NPR 5,912

$195 NPR 29.6K

-80.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$22.25 NPR 3,387

$100 NPR 15.2K

-77.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 NPR 17.5K

$346 NPR 52.7K

-66.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.5 NPR 13.3K

$188 NPR 28.7K

-53.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 NPR 351.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 NPR 206.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 NPR 32.8K

$275 NPR 41.8K

-21.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-0.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Janakpur: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $38.84 in Janakpur versus $195 in Kathmandu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Kathmandu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Janakpur versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $155 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Janakpur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $310 in Janakpur, $496 in Kathmandu – roughly 60% apart. Kathmandu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $465 per month in Janakpur and $744 in Kathmandu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $310 in Janakpur and $496 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $33.01 per month in Janakpur and $93.0 in Kathmandu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $310 in Janakpur and $496 in Kathmandu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Janakpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.